Frustrated by Norway's neutrality at the start of World War 2 and its unwillingness to allow Allied troops to cross the country to aid Finland during the Soviet invasion of 1939, France and Britain concocted Plan R 4, a major military operation to occupy Norway.

Upon learning of the plan, Hitler decided to beat the Allies to the punch by seizing Norway before they did. The full might of the Kriegsmarine then dashed to Norwegian ports posing as friends but demanding the local Navy in the strategic town of Narvik to hand over all their warships.

Still, by rushing to Narvik, the Kriegsmarine had exposed itself, and the Royal Navy would not waste the chance to cripple the German Navy in one swift but decisive move…